Print edition for December 24, 2003

AC workers bare almost all for calendar: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- First, it was the cheeky moniker and skimpy outfits.

Editorial: Probe would be fiery -- but futile: We have previously criticized the board's conduct and we remain critical. The board's actions leave us and many other people, including college teachers and administrators and even many of the regents themselves, asking, "Just what is going on here?" This is a question that deserves an answer and we can appreciate the frustration being felt by state Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, who chairs the Legislative Commission. Townsend has said he will ask the commission next month to appoint a committee to look into the whole affair. He wants the regents' decisions investigated and he wants the university system's policies on ...

Ousted Paiutes still at odds with LV tribe: Jace Radke; A six-month deadline set by a tribal appeals court for the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe and 14 disenrolled members to settle their differences has expired with the two sides still at odds.

Columnist Peter Benton: Edmiston captures Southwest Section win: Peter Benton; Local professionals the Las Vegas Chapter, Southwest Section of the PGA, teed it up last week at the Las Vegas Country Club for their final tournament of the year, an 18-hole individual stroke play event, along with a 3-man team tournament (with the format being one best-ball on the odd holes and two best-balls on the even holes).

State postpones hearings on bid for more water: CARSON CITY -- State Engineer Hugh Ricci has postponed hearings on the bid by the Las Vegas Valley Water District to gain an additional 17,000 acre-feet of underground water from valleys in Clark and Lincoln counties.

Police say man shot by officer in Vegas yard plotted to kill dog: AP; Melvin Gilchrist, 26, who survived the Dec. 5 shooting, plotted with an accomplice, Ryan Schiestel, 25, to kill the animal in the back yard of a home in the upscale Summerlin section of Las Vegas, police said.

Lottery offers biggest holiday gift of all: Heather Rawlyk; For more information, visit the website at www.powerball.com

Las Vegas rolls out first artificial turf at park: Sito Negron; Work crews are busy rolling out the city of Las Vegas' newest soccer yards at Ed Fountain Park, one unique part of a $6.1 million renovation project that includes laying artificial turf instead of grass on two fields.

Where I Stand -- Columnist Mike O'Callaghan: Christmas is a day of recollection and giving: Dec. 25, 2003

Obituaries for Dec. 24, 2003: Richard V. Ambre II, 67, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospice. He was born Oct. 26, 1936, in Aurora, Ill. A resident for 28 years, he was a retired firefighter, a retired Air Force staff sergeant, a Vietnam War veteran, a member of Knights of Columbus, High Rollers and Strollers, a 55 Alive instructor and a Southern Nevada volunteer first aid and rescue member.

Letter: Ensign must help stop energy bill: Also, Jon Porter and Jim Gibbons, Nevada's Republican representatives in the House, claim to have supported this bill because of all the great incentives for renewable energy it contains. Ha!

Wal-Mart workers raise holiday grants: The holiday grants will be used to help fund projects or purchase needed items for tax-exempt organizations, public schools and government agencies, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman said.

Gaming briefs for Dec. 24, 2003: RENO -- Former workers at the shuttered Sundowner hotel-casino want changes to federal laws that they say don't give employees enough protections when a business shuts down.

Community briefs for Dec. 24, 2003: The Henderson Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the Henderson Holiday Hoop Camp beginning 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Dec. 31 at Whitney Ranch Recreation Center, 1575 Galleria Drive.

Editorial: 'Sauce for the goose ...': It's different with federal land, however. Although the use of federal land can be intensive, local governments receive "payments in lieu of taxes," which are lower than property taxes. Nevertheless, they should be a reliable source of income for local governments, especially in states such as Nevada where the federal government is the predominant landowner. Yet it's never known from year to year how much money Congress will allocate. Congress may approve one amount but allocate another, lesser, amount. We agree with the Western Governors Association, which says it should be mandatory for Congress to pay the full authorized amount ...

Letter: Drug plan needs revisions to help seniors: The employer, union or agency does not have to offer the same prescription drug plan to those retired and working. This was supported by employers and unions, including the teachers union. The retiree may have to pay a maximum premium of $30 a month plus a $250 deductible and 25 percent of the cost of the medications up to $2,250. After that amount is reached, there is no coverage at all until you have paid out a total of $5,100. At that level, the coverage picks up 95 percent.

Valley High graduate achieves highest Air Force enlisted rank: Dick Benoit; Fredrick Green, a Valley High School graduate who recently was promoted to chief master sergeant has achieved the highest enlisted rank possible in the Air Force.

BLM firefighting positions available: Temporary seasonal positions will be filled as engine, helitack and hotshot crew members, as well as aircraft ramp personnel and dispatchers stationed at 24 fire stations throughout the state.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Multitalented Sorvino makes Las Vegas splash: Elizabeth Foyt; Sorvino, known across America for his work in such TV shows as "Law & Order" and such movies as "GoodFellas," is also a gifted sculptor who trained with Jose de Creeft, creator of Central Park's famed "Alice in Wonderland" statues. Sorvino also appears regularly on Broadway, and has a long career in production and directing, in addition to writing.

Casinos support charities: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- At Resorts Atlantic City, they're donating items to families with seriously ill children.

Business forum sets China trip: Aaron Arneson will join 30 other college students from throughout the nation to study a variety of business practices Dec. 28 to Jan. 11.

Saxton, pioneer in UNLV continuing education, dies: Services for Frances Saxton, who helped develop and sustain the UNLV Continuing Education Program, will be Sunday at the university.

Jaguars loses its bid for booze: Erica D. Johnson; Strip club giant Jaguars is expected to remain closed after a District Court judge on Tuesday denied a motion that would allow the club to serve alcohol.

Hotel room at Venetian damaged by blaze: The fire in a wall prompted evacuation of the ninth and 10th floors of the one tower, hotel spokeswoman Candace Bailey said.

Website finalist in competition: VEGAS.com, launched in 1998, is part of the Greenspun family of companies, which includes the Las Vegas Sun.

Chefs share culinary creations with Opportunity Village: Chefs share culinary creations with Opportunity Village

Today's matchup: Las Vegas Bowl: Oregon State run offense vs. New Mexico run defense

Vern's Moses Lake Meats recalls beef: The beef involved in the recall was produced on Dec. 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Safety Inspection Service said today.

Several issues involve Caliente route for waste: The DOE says it will work with sister federal and state agencies to minimize the adverse impacts on wildlife, plants and the soils along the route.

Storm to bring colder weather: Clouds are expected in the Las Vegas Valley tonight and Thursday as a winter storm system brings wet, colder weather to the Southwest.

It all comes to pass: Steve Guiremand; Much of the focus heading into tonight's Las Vegas Bowl matchup between Oregon State and New Mexico has centered around the team's two star running backs, Steven Jackson and DonTrell Moore.

Fight schedule: At Wilmington, Del., (Telefutura), Cesar Bazan, Mexico, vs. Louis Brown, Indianapolis, 10, junior welterweights.

Firefighters pitch in to save family's Christmas: Timothy Pratt and Heather Rawlyk; After a fire burned her family's Christmas tree with the rest of their apartment last week, 3-year-old Isamar Velez thought Santa Claus wouldn't come this year.

Head Start gets $12 million grant: The money will go through the Community Action Partnership, which is overseen by the Economic Opportunity Board. Each year nearly 3,000 children take part in Head Start programs in Nevada, with 1,700 of those in Clark County. But those numbers represent less than a quarter of those eligible, officials have noted. The grant will allow more children to participate, Berkley said.

49ers coach wants Owens to return: If Terrell Owens indeed played his last game with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Philadelphia before breaking his left clavicle, the thought didn't occur to coach Dennis Erickson. He was simply trying to win a road game, any road game.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Lewis producing firm bods in Vegas: Make way for "THIGHagra" -- a new video workout from a Las Vegas chiropractor and Strip producer, who says his methods give showgirls, and anyone else who tries them, "the firm buns and thighs that Vegas is famous for."

11 indicted following raids by DEA agents: Jace Radke; Eleven people arrested in Drug Enforcement Agency raids in Las Vegas and California earlier this month were indicted in federal court Tuesday.

Flu won't alter Las Vegas diocese's communions: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas will not follow the Reno Diocese in temporarily changing its communion practices to prevent the spread of the flu.

Sloan heliport proposal concerns residents: Dan Kulin; The Clark County Department of Aviation will likely recommend construction of a regional heliport on county-owned land in Sloan, but some Henderson officials and residents worry that location would bring helicopter noise to the city's southwest neighborhoods.

Sports briefs for December 24, 2003: Bahrain faces a "high threat from terrorism," said a Foreign & Commonwealth Office spokesman. The government is "particularly concerned about potential threats to places where westerners might gather," including the April 4 Grand Prix.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Injury to Vargas made moving fight simple: Dean Juipe; An injury to Fernando Vargas played a role in moving the James Toney vs. Jameel McCline fight scheduled for Feb. 7 from Detroit to Las Vegas.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Humm marvels at Favre as others marvel at him: Dean Juipe; David Humm has been in football all his life and seen most everything. But what happened Monday night in Green Bay's 41-7 victory against Oakland was, to him, almost incomprehensible.

Teen helpers may be issue in Moncrief case: Sito Negron and Ed Koch; A grand jury in Las Vegas is taking testimony in the investigation into Ward 1 Councilwoman Janet Moncrief's campaign finance reports, with the latest twist being the possibility that she misreported thousands of dollars in payments made to teens working as "street teams."

Raw Talent: Music prodigy Gene Nakanishi now a local sushi magnate: Ken Miller; Nakanishi, a Las Vegas native, owns and operates two Osaka Japanese Bistros, one in Las Vegas and one in Henderson, and Little Korea Barbecue and Sushi in Las Vegas. He stays involved with each restaurant and keeps long hours. A typical day doesn't end until about 3 a.m.

Park Place to sell LV Hilton: By Liz Benston; Park Place Entertainment Corp. today agreed to sell its struggling Las Vegas Hilton to an affiliate of Colony Capital LLC for about $280 million.

Developers plan high-rise residence for downtown: Jennifer Shubinski; Two developers are working on plans for the first high-rise luxury residences in downtown Las Vegas.

Taxable sales up for third month: CARSON CITY -- Nevada merchants enjoyed a robust October, posting double-digit increases for the third straight month.

Local officials say no threats against Las Vegas seen: Jace Radke; Despite national reports citing unnamed sources saying Las Vegas could be a terrorist target, local law enforcement officials say they have received no reports of credible threats against the city.

DOE designates rail route for Yucca: CARSON CITY -- The Energy Department on Tuesday announced it plans to transport spent nuclear fuel by rail through rural Nevada to Yucca Mountain, if a repository opens there as proposed.

Mercy Air teams brace for tragedies: Jen Lawson; Shauna Miller remembers the first emergency call she responded to as a Mercy Air flight nurse a year ago.

Fountains running despite new rules: The water danced in the afternoon sun Monday, spraying up 6 feet or more from the three fountains at the Boca Park Fashion Mall.

Pension rules changed: Companies will have to define their plan assets, benefit obligations, cash flows, benefit costs and other relevant information at least four times a year.

Rio looking at observation wheel: By Liz Benston; The Rio hotel-casino is negotiating with a Las Vegas development company to build a giant ferris wheel behind the resort -- the latest announcement in a long line of Las Vegas Strip observation wheel concepts that have been proposed over the years but haven't yet materialized.

LV broker charged in fund scandal: Kevin Rademacher; A Las Vegas securities broker has been charged with scheming to defraud mutual fund investors.

Nevada bans dairy cows from Washington state: By Mary Manning; Nevada officials said Tuesday they were optimistic that a single Holstein at a farm in Washington state that tested positive for mad cow disease is not the beginning of an epidemic.

Power contract finalized: Kevin Rademacher; The Black Hills Corp. announced Tuesday that it has finalized the details of a long-term contract to provide power from its Las Vegas Cogeneration II plant to Nevada Power Co.

Lighting up the valley: Dec. 25, 2003

LV resorts make few changes for holidays: By Liz Benston; While many tourists spend the holidays at home with their families this week, Ken Van Vechten will be driving to Las Vegas in search of deals.

News briefs for Dec. 24, 2003: A 50-year-old man accused of using the Internet to attempt to lure a 14-year-old girl into a sexual encounter was arrested Tuesday by Metro Police at a Las Vegas apartment complex.

New vice president named: Sierra Pacific Resources' current general counsel, C. Stanley Hunterton, senior partner in the Las Vegas-based law firm, Hunterton & Associates, will continue to supply outside legal services to the company.